Effect of Del Nido cardioplegia on ventricular arrhythmias after cardiovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) has been proven safe and effective in pediatric patients. However, the use of DNC in adult undergoing cardiovascular surgery lacks support with substantial evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of DNC as a cardioplegia of prophylaxis to ventricular arrhythmias associated to cardiovascular surgery in adult patients. METHODS: This study recruited nine hundred fifty-four patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries in Nanjing Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between January 2019 and December 2019. Among 954 patients, 324 patients were treated with DNC (DNC group), and 630 patients were treated with St. Thomas cardioplegia (STH group). The incidence of postoperative arrhythmia as well as other cardiovascular events relavant to the surgery were investigated in both groups. RESULTS: In DNC group, the incidence of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias was lower (12.4% vs. 17.4%, P = 0.040), and the length of ICU stay was shorter (1.97 ± 1.49 vs. 2.26 ± 1.46, P = 0.004). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that the use of DNC helped to reduce the incidence of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias (adjusted odds ratio 0.475, 95% CI 0.266-0.825, P = 0.010). The propensity score-based analysis and subgroup analysis indicated that DNC has the same protecting effects towards myocardial in all kinds of cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Del Nido cardioplegia may potentially reduce the incidence of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias, shorten the length of ICU stay and improve the overall outcome of the patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic block polymer poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene carbonate)-poly(ethylene glycol) for drug delivery.

A novel amphiphilic block polymer poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene carbonate)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PPC-PEG) was synthesized via the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide condensation reaction of double PEG-bis-amine and HOOC-PPC-COOH. The obtained copolymer was characterized by NMR to determine its structure. Using the PEG-PPC-PEG as the carrier and using doxorubicin (DOX) as a model drug, DOX-loaded nanoparticles with core shell structure were synthesized by self-assembly in water. The nanoparticles properties such as particle size, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency (EE) and drug release behavior were investigated as a function of the hydrophobic block length of PPC segments and compared with each other. The results showed that the EE was up to 88.8%. Nanoparticles were found to have a certain effect on the controlled release of DOX.

An excellent result of surgical treatment in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension following mitral valve disease.

OBJECTIVE: Observe the efficacy of surgical treatment in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension caused by mitral valve disease. METHODS: We examined the results of surgical treatment in 32 patients with mitral valve disease and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (pulmonary arterial systolic pressure ≥ 80 mmHg) retrospectively. Operative and postoperative data collection included type of the surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross-clamp time and the mortality rate. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction were recorded and compared. RESULTS: A total number of 32 patients had the operation of mitral valve replacement. Among those subjects, twenty-seven patients were surgically replaced with mechanical prosthesis and five patients with tissue prosthesis. Only one patient died of pneumonia, with a mortality rate of 3.1 %. The statistical results of preoperative and postoperative echocardiographic data showed significant decrease in pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (101.2 ± 20.3 versus 48.1 ± 14.3 mmHg, P < 0.05), left atrial diameter(67.6 ± 15.7 versus 54.4 ± 11.4 mm, P < 0.05) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (52.3 ± 9.5 versus 49.2 ± 5.9 mm, P < 0.05). There was no significant change in left ventricular ejection fraction (59.2 ± 6.5 versus 57.9 ± 7.6, P = NS). At the time of follow-up, twenty-eight (96.6 %) patients were classified in New York Heart Association functional class I or II, one(3.4 %) in class III, with the mortality rate is zero percent. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral valve replacement can be performed successfully in patients with mitral valve disease and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension with an acceptable perioperative risk.